Shoe supporting mechanisms



Oct. 4, 1960 w. L. BAKER 2,954,571

SHOE SUPPORTING MECHANISMS Filed March 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Inventor VVL'ZZa/u L Baker By his Attorney Oct. 4, 1960 w. L. BAKER 2,954,571

sues SUPPORTING mscmmsms Filed March 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHOE SUPPORTING MECHANISMS Willard L. Baker, Ipswich, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 801,886

5 Claims. (Cl. 12-127) This invention relates to a shoe supporting mechanism and is herein illustrated as embodied in a shoe supporting mechanism associated with the toe lasting machine and of the particular type disclosed and claimed in an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 776,- 279, filed November 25, 1958, in the names of Andrew J. Gilbride and AdelbertW. Rockwell, Jr. It will be understood, of course, that the features of this invention are not limited to use in a shoe supporting mechanism of that particular type or to the exact mechanical construction shown.

As will be understood by reference to the above-mentioned application, in the shoe supporting mechanism which is therein illustrated, the toe end of the shoe is clamped firmly against a toe rest as a result of pressure applied to its heel end by a heel abutment adapted directly to engage the upper at the heel end of the last. In order to avoid, in so far as possible, damage to or marking of the surface of the upper in this location, the heel abutment of this prior shoe supporting mechanism is provided with a resilient shoe engaging pad in accordance with a usual practice. While this arrangement has proven to be quite satisfactory in general, with some types of work, for example where the upper material is quite soft and easily marked, or Where certain kinds of plastic counted stiffener material are used, it is highly desirable and, in fact,

necessary, that the application of any pressure at all directly against the surface of the upper at the heel end of the shoe, or at least in the immediate vicinity of the counter stiflener, be entirely avoided.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved shoe supporting mechanism Wherein the shoe is clamped against a toe rest or similar support by pressure applied at the heel end of the shoe unthout applying any pressure directly to the upper at the heel end of the last. With this object in view, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the herein illustrated shoe supporting mechanism, which is otherwise similar to that disclosed in the mentioned application, is provided with a heel abutment having spaced abutment surfaces adapted, respectively, to engage the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat and to apply pressure against the heel end of the last in a location spaced heightwise from the bottom of the shoe. More particularly, the heel abutment of this improved shoe supporting mechanism comprises a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having a rounded surface for engaging the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat, and a substantially U-shaped abutment surface adapted to apply pressure against the cone of the last above the top line of the upper at the heel end of the shoe.

The above objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the upper portion of rates Patent a shoe supporting mechanism embodying the features of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation and with certain parts shown in vertical sect-ion of the shoe supporting mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to these drawings, the shoe supporting mecl1anism which is illustrated therein is, with the exception of the improvements of this invention, substantially like the mechanism disclosed and claimed in an application for United States Letters Patent referred to above, see especially Fig. 5 of the drawings of that application. Thus, the illustrated supporting mechanism includes a toe rest 10, mounted on a portion of the frame 12 of the lasting machine with which the supporting mechanism is associated, and a last pin 14 carried by a base portion 16 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 18 on the upper end-of a lever 20. This lever, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 22, carried by forwardly extending portions 24 of a frame-like member 26 which is supported on the machine frame in the manner explained in the mentioned application. The shoe to be lasted, herein indicated generally by the reference character S and comprising an upper U assembled with an insole on a last L having a rear cone portion C, is clamped against the toe rest 10 as a result of movement of the last pin 14 rearwardly to bring the heel end of the shoe into engagement with a heel abutment to be described in detail below. Such rearward movement of the last pin is effected by means of a fluid pressure actuator, indicated generally by the reference character 30, and having an operating rod 32 connected to the lever '20, this actuator being adapted to be put in communication with a source of fluid under pressure through a conduit 34, as explained in detail in the mentioned application.

For the purposes of this invention, the heel abutment comprises an upper member, indicated generally by the reference character 40, which is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe 'by means of a pin 42 extending through the member 40 and supported on forwardly extending portions of a block 44, and a lower member 46. This lower member is adjustably mounted, by means including a pin 48, on a stem 50 which is secured to and extends downwardly from the member 40, Fig. 2, and which is shaped on its forward end to provide a U-shaped recess 52 which is fitted with a band or cushioning material 54. Preferably, and as illustrated in the drawings, the block 44 is slid ably mounted in the frame-like member 26 and is adapted to be held in different positions of heightwise adjustment by means of a locking screw 56. A spring-pressed plunger 58 is arranged to bear against the member 40 in a location below the axis of the pin 42, thereby to swing the heel abutment assembly yieldingly in a clockwise direction from the position in which it is shown. The member 49 is shaped to provide a rounded operating surface 60 for engaging the heel seat portion of the shoe.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2, the lower member 46 is so adjusted on the stem 50 that the cushioning band 54 engages the heel cone portion C of the last L of the shoe S, in a location spaced heightwise from the bottom of the shoe beyond the upper U when the heel end of the shoe is forced rearwardly by the last pin as the lever 20 is swung in a clockwise direction by the actuator 30. At the same time, the rounded operating surface 60 of the upper heel abutment member 40 engages the heel seat portion of the shoe. Thus, as the last pin together with the shoe are forced rearwardly, thereby to cause the forepart of the shoe to be clamped against the toe rest 10, the application of pressure directly against the upper U at the heel end of the shoe in locations which are visible in the finished shoe, and the marking, flattening or otherwise marring of the exposed surface of the upper are wholly and efiectively avoided. Yet, at the same time, the shoe is securely clamped against the toe rest as a result of pressure applied against its heel end much in the same manner as in the shoe supporting mechanism of the above-mentioned application.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating on shoes, a support for a shoe assembled on a last, comprising a toe rest for supporting the toe end of the shoe a support for a last spindle, a last spindle pivotally mounted on the support, a heel abutment, and means for effecting relative movement between the last spindle support and the heel abutment to cause the heel end of the shoe and last to engage the heel abutment and the forepart of the shoe to be forced against the toe rest, said heel abutment comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having spaced abutment surfaces located on opposite sides of said axis and adapted, respectively, to engage the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat and to apply pressure against the heel end of the last ina location spaced heightwise from the bottom of the shoe.

2. In a machine for operating on shoes, a support for a shoe assembled on a last, comprising a toe rest for supporting the toe end of the shoe, a support for a last spindle, a last spindle mounted on the support for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe, a heel abutment, and means for effecting relative movement between the last spindle support and the heel abutment to cause the heel end of the shoe to engage the heel abutment and the forepart of the shoe to be forced against the toe rest, said heel abutment comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having spaced abutment surfaces located on opposite sides of said axis and adapted, respectively, to engage the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat and to apply pressure against the heel end of the last in a location spaced heightwise from the bottom of the shoe.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes, a support for a shoe assembled on a last, comprising a toe rest for supporting the toe end of the shoe, a support for a last spindle, a last spindle mounted on the support for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe, a heel abutment, and means for efiecting relative movement between said last spindle support and said heel abutment to cause the heel end of the shoe to engage the heel abutment and the forepart of the shoe to be forced against the toe rest, said heel abutment comprising a member mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having spaced abutment surfaces located on opposite sides of said axis and adapted to engage, respectively, the cone of the last, above the top line of the upper of the shoe, and the heel seat portion of the shoe.

4. In a machine for operating on shoes, a support for a shoe assembled on a last, comprising a toe rest for supporting the toe end of the shoe, a support for a last spindle, a last spindle pivotally mounted on the support, a heel abutment, and means for etl'ecting relative movement between said last spindle support and said heel abutment to cause the heel end of the shoe to engage the heel abutment and the forepart of the shoe to be forced against the toe rest, said heel abutment comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having a U-shaped abutment surface located on one side of said axis adapted to apply pressure against the heel end of the last in a location spaced heightwise from the bottom of the shoe and a rounded surface located on the opposite side of said axis for engaging the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat.

5. In a machine for operating on shoes, a support for a shoe assembled on a last, comprising a toe rest for supporting the toe end of the shoe, a support for a last spindle, a last spindle pivotally mounted on the support, a heel abutment, and means for effecting relative movement between said last spindle support and said heel abutment to cause the heel end of the shoe to engage the heel abutment and the forepart of the shoe to be forced against the toe rest, said heel abutment comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the shoe and having a U-shaped abutment surface located on one side of said axis adapted to apply pressure against the cone of the last, above the top line of the upper at the heel end of the last and a rounded surface located on the opposite side of the axis for engaging the bottom of the shoe adjacent to its heel seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,928,847 Bates Oct. 3, 1933 1,968,256 Morrill July 31, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 639,337 France June 19, 1928 

